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O'Dwyer Avoids US Extradition

Richard O'Dwyer has reached an agreement to avoid extradition to the US over copyright infringement allegations. O'Dwyer allegedly earned thousands of pounds through advertising on the TVShack website before it was closed down by US authorities.

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A student who created a website that helped people to watch films and TV shows for free has reached an agreement to avoid extradition to the US over copyright infringement allegations.

Richard O'Dwyer from Chesterfield was facing extradition after allegedly earning thousands of pounds through advertising on the TVShack website.

He's now reached an agreement that involves travelling to the US and paying compensation, but avoiding a trial. As part of their campaign he and his mother had petitioned Leicester East MP Keith Vaz, Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee.

The Conservative MP and lawyer Dominic Raab, has called Richard O'Dwyer's settlement a 'victory for British justice.'

He's campaigned for reform of Britain's extradition arrangements with the US.

"This is a victory for Richard and his family, a victory for British justice and, above all, a victory for common sense. Now we need to put in law a proper safeguard to prevent these arbitrary cases from happening again."

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Liberty, the human rights campaign group have welcomed the proposed settlement of Richard O'Dwyer's case.

O'Dwyer, who is from Chesterfield, will voluntarily go to the US to pay compensation.

In light of this, Liberty have warned that there is still a need to reform extradition laws.

"Case after case shows that our extradition arrangements must be overhauled to allow people who have never left these shores to be dealt with here at home. We need urgent legislation to prevent their torment."

A student from Chesterfield who is challenging an extradition order to the United States where he is facing copyright charges has taken his fight to parliament. Richard O'Dwyer set up a website which offered links to pirated movies and tv programmes.

Today he met the MP Keith Vaz who chairs the Home Affairs Committee which has raised concerns about the extradition process.